Alma Lafler

Alma Lafler

Both the Prudential Center and Newbury street are commercial shopping areas, but they differ in that the Prudential could conceivably be modeled on a central meeting place with radiating streets in a town, whereas Newbury street harkens to the main street in a such a place.

The brownstones in which stores are housed almost like homes; however, the purpose of Newbury Street – to window shop – is clearly demonstrated by its design. The leafless young trees lining the sidewalk are strung with holiday lights, likely intended to create an inviting atmosphere for nighttime shoppers. There is no place along the street to do anything more than pause to tie a shoe, as there are few benches and no common areas. Stores on Newbury Street are also likely subject to local business association rules – the scarcity of lit-up signs is noteworthy. The business association likely pays or lobbies for attentive cleaning and police patrol, for it has far less litter than all of the nearby avenues (even with thousands passing through hourly), and there are no street performers – or homeless people – in sight.

Copley and the Prudential, in contrast, each have a central common area, from which the various arcades radiate. Many people sit in this area for a break between stores, as along the arcades, people are in constant motion, just like on Newbury Street. An interesting difference between the two types of space is that because the indoor malls are contained, delimited entities, it is clear where the shopping area begins and ends. In addition, all of the doors are open, allowing for a comparably lower barrier for entry (after you have gained entry to the mall itself, of course – also restricted, by security near the doors, from “undesirable” parties).